We are Terraforma Designs
Marcelles and Michelle Murdock are multi-faceted artisans living, dreaming, and creating in the Mojave Desert of California.
Their separate worlds intertwined in 2012 when they were introduced by mutual friends at their beloved hometown café, after spending much of their lives as passing ships in the night.
Soon after this connection, they realized they shared similar dreams for the future, which initiated a journey that encouraged them to grow together in love, rich experiences, and the development of a wide range of artisanal skills.
In 2021, they channeled all their passion and artisanal expertise to shift their lives in alignment with their core values—to create beautiful heirloom pieces, engage deeply with the artistic community, and answer the call of their adventure-seeking hearts.
Terraforma Designs was then brought to life—a company dedicated to creating unique, sustainable home furnishings that honor the elements and are built to last for generations.
Marcelles Murdock
He is the heartbeat of the humble yet mighty workshop at Terraforma Designs. Born and raised in the Mojave Desert, Marcelles has always found its vast landscape to be a source of creative inspiration.
Though he ventured away for a time to pursue a degree and career in photography, he eventually returned with a strong desire to center his life around building and creating. Each time he unlocked a new skill, it often led to discovering another. As a result, the last 10+ years have been filled with seeking out the right resources and tools to master his craft.
His artisanal specialties include fine woodworking, metalworking, masonry, design, upholstery and fabrication, product photography, and everything in between. His designs and creations are always rooted in a deep desire to honor nature.
Marcelles is a true shop cat, tapping into all layers of himself to bring big ideas from the ether → paper → real life. He deeply values time spent in nature, unique architecture, adventure, and any attempt to chase the light.
Michelle Murdock
She is the unstoppable force behind all things business, as well as the finishing side of our furniture at Terraforma Designs. Michelle has spent the majority of her life in the Mojave Desert and has worked alongside the community for many years in both the coffee and grocery industries. More recently, she spent several deeply enriching years teaching middle school Social Studies.
Michelle's passion for interior and furniture design took flight in her youth, leading her down a path filled with opportunities to grow as both an artisan and an entrepreneur. Her specialties include furniture design, wood and metal finishing, videography, business and social media management, and anything else needed to keep the Terraforma train on track.
In her spare time, Michelle can be found playing her guitar, perfecting a new recipe, climbing big mountains, and stumbling down rabbit holes. She has an insatiable desire to learn through each phase of life and strives to find depth and connection in every avenue of creation.